OPTIONAL DAY: ONE OR TWO WAYS DRIVING BETWEEN ULAANBAATAR AND
THE SOUTH GOBI DESERT

Map

Detailed Trek Description

The Gobi desert measures over 1,610 km from southwest to northeast
and 800 km from north to south and stretches over Mongolia and China.
It occupies an arc of land 1,295,000 km2 in area, making it fifth
largest in the world and Asia's largest. Much of the Gobi is not
sandy but is covered with bare rock.

The Gobi is a cold desert, with frost snow on its dunes during
the winter months. Besides being quite far north, it is also located
on a plateau roughly 910–1,520 meters above sea level, which further
contributes to its low temperatures. An average of approximately
194 millimeters of rain falls per year in the Gobi. Additional moisture
reaches parts of the Gobi in winter as snow is blown by the wind
from the Siberian Steppes. These winds cause the Gobi to reach extremes
of temperature ranging from –40°C in winter to +50°C in summer.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at the airport we will be welcomed by our guide.
He will bring us to our comfortable, centrally located hotel.

In the afternoon we will stroll around Ulaanbaatar. We will visit
the Natural and the Historical Museums.

We will stop at the Gandantegchinlen Monastery. It is the largest
and most important monastery of Mongolia. We will scroll through
the different monasteries and see the magnificent statue of Migjid
Janraisig, an 82-food high statue gilded in gold and covered with
silk cloths.

(Hotel)

DAY 2: YOLIIN AND DUNGENEE AM, THE EAGLE GORGES OR VULTURE MOUTH

After our arrival by plane in Dalandzadgad, we will take a ride
through the beautiful gorges of the imposing Altai Mountain Chain.
We will pass through the Yoliin Am and the Dungenee Am both located
in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Ancient rivers carved those
green valleys.

We may catch a glimpse of the wild Argali sheep, the Ibex, the
desert gazelles or the Golden Eagles. We will also pay a visit to
the little museum of the park where you can admire a collection
of dinosaur bones.

(Ger Camp, B, L, D)

DAY 3: NOYON

We will drive through Dungenee Am to reach later today Noyon
village. From here we will drive to our host family from where we
will take camels for our trekking.

(Tented Camp, B, L, D).

DAY 4: KHUNGER KHANGIIN NURUU

We will load all our gears on our pack camels and start our trekking.
For our first day we will trek along the southern side of the Khunger
Khangiin Nuruu Mountain.

(Tented Camp, B, L, D).

DAY 5: GORGES AND CANYON

Today we will trek north through a canyon of the Khunger Khangiin
Nuruu Mountain.

(Tented Camp, B, L, D).

DAY 6: TESIIN LAKE

For another day we will trek north to reach the once was Tesiin
Lake. This totally dried out lake is now a place where salt is collected.
It is one of the many evaporates of Mongolia.

(Tented Camp, B, L, D).

DAY 7 AND 8: ZEGSTIIN TSAGAAN SAND DUNES

For 2 more days we will trek along the Zegstiin Tsagaan Sand
Dunes, into the direction of Nemegt canyons. Depending of the speed
of our trekking we will reach the canyons in the evening of the
second day.

(Tented Camp, B, L, D).

DAY 9: KHONGORIIN SAND DUNES

Today we will head 200 km westwards to the Khongoriin Els. These
are Mongolia's largest sand dunes. Those impressive dunes of 275
meters high in some places, stretch from East to West over more
than 100 km. Behind the sand dunes we will see the impressive black
rocky mass of the Sevrey Mountain.

(Ger Camp, B, L, D).

DAY 10: TOSONTSENGEL SUM

We will drive to Dalandzadgad and take our flight back to Ulaanbaatar.

(Hotel, B, L, D).

DAY 11: FREE DAY IN ULAANBAATAR

We will have a full free day to stroll around in Ulaanbaatar
and buy some souvenirs before heading back home.

(Hotel, B, D)

DAY 12: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure

OPTIONAL DAY: BAYANZAG OR THE FLAMING CLIFFS

Bayanzag also known as the "Flaming Cliffs" is the worldwide
renowned place where paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews found dinosaur
bones and eggs. The surrounding landscape is a beautiful combination
of rocks, red sand and scrubs. Here we will spend some time exploring
the cliffs.

OPTIONAL DAY: ONE OR TWO WAYS DRIVING BETWEEN ULAANBAATAR AND
THE SOUTH GOBI DESERT

For those who have more time, they could combine the trekking
with one or two ways driving between Ulaanbaatar and the South Gobi
Desert. One way can take from two days up to six days depending
of the road take. There is a possibility to pass through Central
Mongolia. You can take two different road, one to reach to South
Gobi, one to come back from the South Gobi.